Go Sports Ball!
16 Super Bowl Nail Ideas To Show Off Your Chiefs & 49ers Spirit
Even if you’re just watching to see Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.
by Katie McPherson
Super Bowl nails might normally take a back seat to Valentine’s Day nails — if you’re not a huge football fan to begin with, naturally you’d want cute holiday nails to take precedence. But because Super Bowl LVIII is a showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, and both teams’ colors just so happen to be red and gold, you can actually have it all. Yep, your Valentine’s Day mani can double as your Super Bowl nails (unless of course you go all in on the football theme, which is totally fine, too).
Are some of us watching the Super Bowl just because of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance? Sure. Others yet are tuning in purely to catch Usher’s halftime show and rap the Lil Jon verse of “Yeah!” with their friends (guilty). But if you’re in it because you love the sport of football, or you’re a major fan of the Chiefs or the 49ers, it’d be fun to have nails that match your gear, you know?
These Super Bowl nails come in all lengths, shapes, and sizes. Some are minimal and others are very, very much not. Whatever you like, you’ll find some inspo here.
1
Super Bowl nails for the Travis Kelce fans
Want to show your love for America’s golden retriever boyfriend? These Kansas City-themed nails look to be purely about the team, but if you look closely at the thumb nail, you’ll see a little tribute to one special Taylor Swift lyric.
2
Super Bowl nails that are all about football
Your favorite player’s jersey number, the 50-yard line, ref stripes, and your favorite play — these nails, courtesy of Dazzle Dry, couldn’t be more on theme. You could choose on pattern to continue on all your nails, or mix and match like so.
3
A minimalist red and gold look
If you’re typically a minimalist when it comes to nail art, this abstract take on a traditional French manicure might be more your speed. The red and gold lend themselves nicely to rooting for either team, and will look equally beautiful clutching a glass of red wine on your Valentine’s date next week.
4
Simple, sparkly red & gold nails
These long, square nails feel super modern, and the glittering gold and red are perfect for cheering on your team Sunday, then hitting the town for Valentine’s Day the week after.
5
Red & gold nails with a genius 49 design
These Super Bowl nails are bright in color, but subtle in the sports theme. Can you spot the hidden 49?
6
Super Bowl nails that somehow really look like turf
You’re going to need a serious nail artist to pull these off — @classicfiednails actually used flocking powder from the craft store to turn these nails into turf.
7
Abstract red & gold nails
Here you have another excellent example of Super Bowl-meets-Valentine’s Day nail art. These abstract swirls are all the rage right now, and they look equally beautiful on short or long tips.
8
These sweet little stripes
They’re sweet, simple, and festive — this red and gold manicure, complete with a little heart accent nail, is guaranteed to be the cutest at the watch party.
9
San Francisco 49ers nails
The talent it takes to paint those team logos so tiny... wow. This nail artist not only gave her client some pigskin laces, but even managed to make her index finger nails look just like the 49ers’ helmets.
10
These cute Kansas City gnomes
Is Travis Kelce still the cutest thing about the Chiefs? Of course. But these nail art gnomes, sporting their red and gold hats, are a pretty close second.
11
A gold heart accent with a deep red base
This manicure really drives home the Valentine’s Day and Super Bowl nails combo. They’ll match your team gear while you scream at the TV on Sunday, and go right back to being V-Day nails on Monday.
12
Super Bowl nails for 49ers lovers
These are the cutest combination V-Day and Super Bowl nails maybe ever. The little sweethearts even say players’ names.
13
Nails that honor the Chiefs’ coach
Kansas City head coach Andy Reid is known for keeping a pretty stern look about him. Nail artist Rach Maxwell (@rachpaynts) captured his countenance perfectly, even on a canvas as tiny as her client’s nail.
14
Red nails with gold leaf accents
Something about short, square nails is just so chic. Anyway, this candy apple red makes a beautiful base for touches of gold leaf.
15
Some red & gold pattern play
If you want really fun nails for the Super Bowl, then don’t be afraid to play with patterns. These polka dot and chunky glitter nails are so cute, and look easy enough to replicate at home.
16
Taylor Swift-inspired Super Bowl nails
Listen, we all know who the lady of the hour is. And when she met Travis Kelce on the field to congratulate him, her peachy, sparkly nails were front and center. So, if you’re not a huge fan of red and gold, don’t be afraid to steal Taylor’s nail look.
So, do any of these football-themed tips strike your fancy? Since both teams’ colors work so well for Valentine’s Day this year, too, there’s really no reason not to get a special mani, just for fun.
